Between the Cross and the Crescent Moon

Have you ever picked up a really thick book and wondered if it would be that interesting, and find that OMG it totally holds your attention for five hundred and ninety pages? I had that experience with “Between the Cross and the Crescent Moon” by Richard F. Zanner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wonderful novel.

This is a well done novel that is sure to teach some history on the medieval times in Europe during the sixteenth century. It happens that I am not a history buff, but this novel is so fascinating and represents a time in history that had to be changed, and I found I could not put it down. This book does not have the normal type characters that pull you right into the story and hook you, but you will be pulled nonetheless. The cruelty imposed on so many good people was quite horrific. From village to village across Europe the war horribly changed many lives - all in the name of greed, power, control, money, and of course, religion.

As you learn of the personal devastations caused by the Ottoman Empire as it ruthlessly killed, brutalized, and enslaved thousands of women, men, and children, it will tear at your heart. The book takes you on the journey with characters such of the infamous Istvan Bocskay and his true love Laska. When the two become separated from one another, they lost touch and their lives were altered forever. Laska had a child with Istvan that he did not know of when he learned that Laska had been captured by the enemies. Laska’s family and Istvan both believed Laska to be dead.

The story twists and turns and takes you through a really tough time in history. This author really did his homework on the history and I will give him a lot of praise for his efforts of taking history and interweaving it into a fascinating read. I take my hat off to Richard Zanner for a job well done!